Ane Apil hopes to deliver medal for Cebu Province in CVIRAA

Aspiring gymnast from Liloan braces for tougher challenge

CEBU, Philippines — After her golden performance in the Cebu Provincial Meet last January, young aspiring gymnast Ane Josephine Colina Apil trains her sights next on producing medal for Cebu Province in the 2019 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet slated on February 16-22 in Dumaguete City.

The sixth grader at Green Rose Center for Academe in Compostela town north of Cebu once again earned the right to represent her hometown in the multi-sport conclave featuring the region’s best student-athletes after bagging one gold, two silver and one bronze medals during the provincial meet staged in Carmen, Cebu a month ago.

In her first CVIRAA stint last year in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, the 11-year-old Apil delivered bronze for Cebu Province.

She aims to better her performance this time.

It’s a tough challenge but Apil is confident on her chances, with fervent hopes of representing Central Visayas in the Palarong Pambansa in the future.

“I believe I have the chance of winning. With my strong faith in God, I know He’ll crown my efforts with success. The skills that I have is already a bonus.And I should top it up with determination and positive attitude,” said the pride of Liloan, Cebu.

At the tender age of six, Apil started to learn the ropes of gymnastics with American artistic gymnast and Olympic champion Simone Biles as her inspiration.

“I took up gymnastics because I was inspired by Olympic gold medallist Simone Biles,” shared Apil.”And I also believe that I am gifted with the skills to do it and I am fit in this kind of sport.”

After performing gymnastic routines for four years, Apil decided to bring her act in a competitive level in 2017.

In just a short span of time, she proved her worth by clinching gold medals in the district meet and then the provincial meet before grabbing bronze in last year’s CVIRAA in Bohol. She also counts winning bronze medal in the 2018 Milo Little Olympics among the top accomplishments in her budding career.

She earned it all through hard work and sheer determination.

“The training in gymnastics is very hard and tiring, yet I never gave up,” said Apil, adding that through gymnastics, she learned “the value of self-confidence and being faithful and thankful to God for entrusting me with this talent”.

“As a gymnast, I believe that it takes perseverance, a strong and dedicated heart, deliberate trainings, determination and a winning attitude,” she added.

Like any other young dreamers, Apil has an ultimate goal that is already deeply entrenched in his heart and mind.

“I want to represent our country in international competitions someday, and hopefully in the Olympics,” ended Apil. (FREEMAN)